TMCC teaching students to limit loan debt

RENO, Nev. (MyNews4.com & KRNV) -- Student loan debt is on the rise, but one local college has been doing its part to teach students to only borrow what they need.

More than 40 million Americans currently have student loan debt. It has grown from $200 billion in 2000 to $1.2 trillion in 2014. In the last three years, total Truckee Meadows Community College student loan borrowing has gone down 40%.

TMCC Financial Aid Director Sharon Wurm said that's because they are educating students better. "We ask them to fill out a loan application, to read through it. We don't tell them how much they can borrow, we say you know here's your option and then we also ask that they watch financial literacy videos."

TMCC also offers free workshops that teach students how to separate wants from needs. For more information on workshops available, head to this website.